Does anyone have info on this they are willing to give out? Like what size strut they are using and what the lift weight is? I know people are working on kits but my stock sopport is broke and want to do this mod but dont want to wait for a kit. I looked at rodneys but that puts the strut right back in the same spot and its always in the way. I want to put them on the front of the hood.
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10:27 AM
PFF
System Bot
GTDude Member
Posts: 9056 From: Keysville, Virginia, USA Registered: Nov 2001
I tried to do the same thing.......there are so damn many....I never found one light enough, but I heard that one from like a 86 Buick skylark hood will work.......but I have no idea. Good luck.
Phil
------------------ GTDude OVER 25 years GM experience
I haven't done it to mine, but another member posted a while back that he used the same part that Skitime used-4684 1030, & they were so strong when compressed that they bowed his hood. I don't know what brand they were using, & so far Skitime has not let out much info on it. You may be able to go here, find the diameter, extended length, retracted length, and then measure how much downforce your hood has, and send them the info. They will make a suggestion as to which struts to order. If you are going to use 2 struts(one on each side), be sure to divide the downforce wt of the hood by 2. Measure downforce, by hanging a scale on the open hood & see what it weighs I guess. They offer a service, where if the strut is too strong, you send it back, & they will decrease the pressure. http://www.guden.com/cgi-bin/inframe.pl?/dampers.htm
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06:23 PM
AnimalGT Member
Posts: 1118 From: Chicago, IL Registered: Jul 2001
I'd just use Rodney Dickman's kit. I priced out all the parts (struts are expensive), and I figured I'd save ~$20 by building it myself. Considering that Rodney's already done the engineering, and the fact that his stuff looks great, I think his daul strut kit is the best way to go.
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10:10 PM
Sep 9th, 2002
opm2000 Member
Posts: 1347 From: Versailles, Ky USA Heart of the Bluegrass Registered: Dec 2000
On every aircraft canopy I've built or worked on, I've used an adjustable gas strut from Carr McNaster. Don't remember the part number, but it's in their big catalogue. You pick the length you need. There is a valve which lets pressure out. This means you can reduce the presssure of the strut. Bad thing is you cannot put the pressure baack in, so release carefully and slowly.
from what I can find(maybe im looking hard enough)but the kit rodney sells is a single strut kit and it puts the strut right back in the same place. The whole point for me wanting to get the strut kit is to get that out of the way, if Im going to spend 60 or 70 bucks for a strut kit I dont want it back in the same spot.I would rather go to the salvage yard and get the stock unit for under 5 bucks.
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07:48 AM
Denny Member
Posts: 1410 From: Leola, PA USA Registered: Apr 2001
Please don't take this the wrong way, but I'd like a reasonable explanation of why anyone should feel obligated to share a unique customization technique. If lots of cars start showing up with the same customization, then it's not unique anymore.
Well I did some looking around today and I found some struts that I think might work. They are from a company called strong arm (most auto parts stores carry them)and the part number I am going to try first is 4428. Its almost 16 inches long and is bolt mounted so you can attach it to the hood hinge bolt at the top and going to have to make a braket for the bottom. Going to try it today and I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS.
ok this was a very very quick test fit but this is what I found.I used one strog arm strut,($14.99)and mounted it to the top hood hinge bolt and than I wedged my ratchet under the spare tire well and used it to keep the strut from sliding back.A little effort was needed to close the hood but not enough to make the hood flex. When I released the hood it opened all by itself. Now I still need a bracket for the bottom but I was thinking of using the top bracket fron the hood prop, just drill out the rivet thing and there you go. The only thing I dont like is that you cant tighten down the top hood hinge bolt because you have to let the strut rotate a little.Any ideas on how to fix this problem?
For those of you that are interested I just finished my SINGLE STRUT hood mod.It works awesome and it was under $20.No more prop in the way, no more holding the release button while you try to keep the hood from slamming down and no more lifting the hood.When I pull the release under the dash the hood slowly opens and when I want it closed it is a one hand operation and it DOES NOT flex the hood.
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04:35 PM
watts Member
Posts: 3256 From: Coaldale, AB, Canada Registered: Aug 2001
Originally posted by Denny: Please don't take this the wrong way, but I'd like a reasonable explanation of why anyone should feel obligated to share a unique customization technique. If lots of cars start showing up with the same customization, then it's not unique anymore.
I just wanna say one thing, the fiero is unique. I very seldomly see a fiero on the road at all today. Then when you do you their trashed. Everyone outside the fiero community, usally talks bad about fieros. So why not help each out, so you have the fiero that are left looking good!
sorry dont have the picture thing down yet but all you need is a STRONG ARM STRUT part #4428, 1 8mm x 1.25" bolt and 1 8mm lock nut and a 8mm nut.All the other parts are all ready there. The strut is fron a 94 buick centry I think.First you take the top bolt out of the hood hinge.Put the new 8mm bolt through the the stru and put the 8mm nut on the bolt and turn it down to the strut but dont tighten it down all the way, the strut has to be able to move.Thread the new bolt into the hood hinge and use the nut to tighten it down,remember to leave enough room for the strut swing freely.Remove the hood prop from the car,use a stick or something to keep the hood open.drill out the rivet that holds the top bracket on.Use the old hood hinge bolt and the lock nut to bolt the bracket to the botton of the strut.Put the strut on the inside of the bracket,towards the mounting holes.Position the bracket on the metal frame under the headlight relay just in back of the headlight relay with the mounting holes facing out towards the radiator hose.Drill 2 holes and use the 2 bolts and 2 nuts you got from removing the hood prop to mount the bracket.Make sure it is out of the way of the headlight so it doesnt get caught on the strut.Thats about it
If you have the picture, you can e-mail it to me and I'll post it for you. I'd like to see a picture of this to see how it looks And if you're sure the strut is from a buick century, I'll pick one up.
------------------ -Adam sqoach@yahoo.com 86 SE V6 - daily driver
no but put a hold on buying that strut.When I went out this morning I noticed the the strut was pushing the corner of the hood up a little so I sent the manufacturer a email and I have to call him tomorrow and give him some info and he is going to match up a strut for me. sorry for any misspelling and what not but Im drunk
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11:09 PM
fiero go fast Member
Posts: 1728 From: Royersford, PA Registered: Apr 2002
Originally posted by wuzzy: no but put a hold on buying that strut.When I went out this morning I noticed the the strut was pushing the corner of the hood up a little so I sent the manufacturer a email and I have to call him tomorrow and give him some info and he is going to match up a strut for me. sorry for any misspelling and what not but Im drunk
haha best post ever!
------------------ Red 86 SE 2.8
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11:16 PM
Sep 25th, 2002
Riceburner98 Member
Posts: 2179 From: Natick, Ma, USA Registered: Apr 2002
LOL... I actually bought the strut a week ago or so, just tried it last night.. I think I cracked my hood... LOL I took the strut out and the hood is still bent up in that corner.. Oh well.. It's an old one anyway. But yeah, that strut's a *bit* strong for the job..
------------------ Bob Williams Multi-colored '87 GT, a work in progress!
*cough*
